4 August 2003
Inn-terpreter coming to the States
Device makes it possible to understand hotel staff
TOKYO -- This month Takara Toys will begin distribution of the "Bowlingual" dog
translator in America. This $120 gadget links a wireless microphone on a
dog's collar to a handheld receiver and converts a dog's barks into
human speech.
Riding on the wave of press that this device has
generated in advance of its availability in the U.S., the company this
week announced that its next product for
the Western market will be the "Inn-terpreter."
Aimed at travelers, the Inn-terpreter resembles a hearing aid. Once
inserted in his ear, a traveler can activate it by simply cocking his
head. The device then translates what is said to him by hotel staff and,
as company literature states, "whispers what hotel personnel really
mean."
Depending on tone and volume as well as specific word
combinations, a microchip running a patented algorithm inside the Inn-terpreter
will return a translation of what the speaker subconsciously or
surreptitiously intended. The device even operates during telephone
conversations.
In tests performed using prototype units provided to Travel Fox by the
company, it was found, for instance, that the sentence, "I will have maintenance
come to your room immediately" was decoded as, "I hope you brought
your own pliers, pal." And the sentence, "I'll see that you receive a wakeup call
at six o'clock" came through as, "There's a good chance you'll be up in time for lunch."
All-in-all reasonably fair interpretations.
According to insiders, there are already several additional travel
related translation devices on the company's drawing boards. If the Inn-terpreter
meets the company's sales targets, expect to see the introduction
of the "Clari-fly"—it will assist air travelers in understanding
what phrases such as "a water landing" really mean—and the
"Dine-cipher," which will help restaurant goers interpret the meaning of
terms such as "I'll be right back with your order."
Related Travel Fox scoops:
Related Err Travel columns:
© 2003 Applied Psychology
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